Girlfriend gets 4-year sentence in death

Court officials also blame victim in manslaughter case.

Court officials also blame victim in manslaughter case.

October 14, 2006|YONIKA WILLIS Tribune Staff Writer

GOSHEN -- When it comes to the April 2005 death of 27-year-old David Garcia, court officials say, both the victim and his girlfriend, Milagro Arredondo, are to blame. Police found Garcia having trouble breathing outside Arredondo's Goshen home, and he later died at a hospital. Arredondo, 31, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday. Garcia had been involved in a fight with Arredondo and several members of her family in the home. Arredondo admitted to beating Garcia with a shovel before switching to a cane with a hidden blade. A puncture wound to Garcia's lung from the cane is what ultimately killed him. Arredondo's brother, Manuel Arredondo, also was charged with involuntary manslaughter and is awaiting trial. Although Arredondo's attorney, Stephen Bowers, said Arredondo was remorseful for her actions, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Vicki Becker had a hard time believing she didn't intend to cause pain or death to her abusive boyfriend. On the day of the incident, Arredondo had visited Garcia despite having a protective order against him, Becker noted. Arredondo also went to a family party with Garcia and spent the night with him the night before his death. "Explain to me why you had sexual intercourse with him (within) a few hours of this occurring?" Elkhart Circuit Court Judge Terry Shewmaker asked Arredondo Thursday. "I did fear him, so to avoid that I would go with him and do whatever he said just to make him happy and to avoid getting hurt," Arredondo said. Becker went on to explain that when Garcia went to Arredondo's home the next day, he intended to cause trouble but was outnumbered when Arredondo's family became involved in the fight. Garcia also did not have a weapon to protect him. "I never asked for this," Arredondo said in court Thursday. "I never wanted to hurt him, but unfortunately I did. I have suffered. I do know one thing: I hurt before he died and afterwards and I always will."